Western Cape, South Africa: Photo Essay
How fortunate we are to see and experience incredible spectacles of nature. It’s easy to see the beauty of this penguin and its reflection, but I see something more: the beauty of water that is taken back to reveal the sand which becomes the mirror that reflects the drama and splendor of nature in perfect detail. The African Penguin is listed in the Red Data Book as an endangered species. Of 1,5 million African Penguin population estimated in 1910, only some 10% remained at the end of the 20th century. The uncontrolled harvesting of penguin eggs (as a source of food), and guano scraping, nearly drove the species to extinction. * According to Boulders Beach staffers, Climate Change has affected fish stocks and increased severe weather incidences have depleted penguin chicks in numbers. When I asked a Boulders Beach staffer if tourism had a negative impact, his reply, "No, just the opposite. Your visit help sparked a lifelong commitment to saving their future."